MP weeps over powhiri 'betrayal and humiliation'

Judith Collins

National's famously steely MP Judith Collins was reduced to tears during a discussion at the social services select committee about its controversial powhiri last week.

She and two National colleagues, Anne Tolley and Paula Bennett, walked out of the powhiri at a Child, Youth and Family Services centre in Manurewa last Friday after a kaumatua rebuked the women for breaching Maori protocol by sitting in the front row, reserved for men.

They left after the speeches and before the hongi which usually concludes powhiri formalities.

Ms Collins is understood to have become emotional on Wednesday when describing to the committee the hurt she had felt at being put in the situation of being rebuked by the kaumatua and criticised by the Prime Minister.

Helen Clark described her as "the guest from hell" and said she had been rebuked for her "boorish behaviour" such as turning her back on a haka, talking all the way through it and not removing her shoes, rather than for sitting in the front row.

Ms Collins did not want to comment last night but released a letter she has sent to Helen Clark disputing those claims, telling her they are defamatory and seeking an apology.

She has also sent a letter to committee chairwoman and Labour MP Georgina Beyer seeking an apology for her handling of the occasion, in particular the fact that she had not told fellow MPs on the committee that the centre intended to have a powhiri.

MPs had originally been advised there would be no powhiri.

"Frankly I felt betrayed, dishonoured and humiliated," she said in the letter explaining why she had walked out.

Ms Beyer said last night that she took responsibility for not having told the committee but would not comment on the panel's discussions other than to say they were "cleansing and constructive".

It emerged this week that Child, Youth and Family has a policy allowing women to sit in the front row during powhiri on its premises. This policy also applies to all powhiri in state organisations.

Child, Youth and Family chief executive Peter Hughes has apologised formally to Ms Collins in a letter.